Hampshire political leaders react to Donald Trump's election as US president

Flick Drummond, Portsmouth South MP, was disheartened by the news, while Fareham Borough Council’s boss, councillor Sean Woodward was not suprised by it.

He said: ‘I think there is a huge world-wide anti-establisment feeling amonst people.

‘It was demonstrated during the EU referendum, which nobody thought would be successful, and now in the US.’

‘The Democrats put up a completely unnaceptable candidate, with a terrible amount of baggage behind her that caused the anti-establisment vote to hold sway.’

Mrs Drummond was shaken by the news and was uncertain about the future

‘I am very disappointed not to see the first woman president of the United States and I hope that will happen in my lifetime,’ she said.

‘Clearly Donald Trump now has a mandate, but there remains a great deal of uncertainty about a man who has not held public office.

‘From Britain’s point of view, he said many things during the campaign which are not helpful including an element of isolationism which may affect the US relationship with Nato at a very dangerous time for an alliance having to cope with a resurgent Russia.

‘However, the US has a constitution with checks and balances and I hope that common sense will prevail in the months and years to come.’

She added: ‘One thing the result does show is that politicians all over the world must start to recognise that great numbers of their electorates feel very angry the political establishment does not value or listen to them.

‘Donald Trump has effectively tapped into this anger and won.’

Alan Mak, Havant MP, said the long-standing relationship between Britain and the US would continue to endure and that while it ‘wasn’t the result many expected’, the government would work with the new president.

While Portsmouth council leader, councillor Donna Jones claimed the next six months would be a ‘key period’ in global politics.

She said Mr Trump had done the ‘unthinkable’ in swaying voters in traditional Democratic strongholds to vote Republican.

Cllr Jones said: ‘As the Republicans have control of the Senate, his relationship with his own party will shape the next five years in how effective or not he is as president of America.

‘Clearly he now needs to develop his advisor team especially in foreign policy which will be of specific interest to the UK and world leaders.’

She added: ‘In the short term this could improve the value of the pound against the dollar and therefore effect the value of oil too.

‘This would have a short term inflationary positive impact on the UK economy.’